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London 2012: Runner's eBay auction due to end London 2012: Sprinter James Ellington's eBay auction ends
(about 7 hours later)
An eBay online auction to sponsor an athlete from south-east London for the 2012 Olympics is due to expire. An eBay auction to sponsor an athlete from south-east London for the 2012 Olympics has expired.
James Ellington, 26, from Lewisham, advertised on the site with a reserve of £30,000 for which he will wear a sponsor's branded kit at training in the run-up to next year's Games.James Ellington, 26, from Lewisham, advertised on the site with a reserve of £30,000 for which he will wear a sponsor's branded kit at training in the run-up to next year's Games.
The winning bid was for £32,550, but the name of the winner is yet to be announced. Seventy-one bids were made.
The sprinter lost out on sponsors through four years of injury problems.The sprinter lost out on sponsors through four years of injury problems.
He said he had managed to qualify for the Games despite no lottery support, kit deal, or any kind of endorsements. He said he had managed to qualify for the Games despite no lottery support, kit deal or any kind of endorsements.
As of Friday evening, the highest bid was £32,250. Some 68 people or companies had placed bids.
The auction expires just after noon.
'Personal bests''Personal bests'
The auction expired at 12:34 GMT.
Speaking last week, he said: "I'm peaking when it really matters, finishing my best-ever season and smashing my own personal bests just before the 2012 Games.Speaking last week, he said: "I'm peaking when it really matters, finishing my best-ever season and smashing my own personal bests just before the 2012 Games.
"All I need now is a commercial sponsor to get on board and I can commit myself full-time to getting into Team GB and hopefully win a medal for Great Britain at London 2012." "All I need now is a commercial sponsor to get on board and I can commit myself full time to getting into Team GB and hopefully win a medal for Great Britain at London 2012."
To train like his rivals, Ellington says he needs a £15,000 wage and a further £15,000 for expenses to cover travel and accommodation, dietary needs and kit. To train like his rivals, Ellington said he needed a £15,000 wage and a further £15,000 for expenses to cover travel and accommodation, dietary needs and kit.
The athlete - a 100m, 200m and relay sprinter - has run the fastest 200m by a British athlete this year at a non-altitude venue in 20.52 seconds. The athlete - a 100m, 200m and relay sprinter - has run the fastest 200m by a British athlete this year at a non-altitude venue, in a time of 20.52 seconds.